Council leads way in clean-up

CLEAN-UP: This will be scene around town next month when Clean Up Australia Day gets into full swing.

Whyalla has jumped on board for this year’s Clean Up Australia Day and there is still plenty more room on the rubbish-buster bus.

COUNCIL: Whyalla City Council and a group of businesses have thrown their weight behind Clean Up Australia Day.

A group of local businesses is supporting the event next month, showing that residents really want to keep our city clean.

The businesses include Cleanaway, Azzopardi Butchers, the French Bread Shop, Centacare and the City of Whyalla.

You can join them on Sunday, March 4, while the Schools Clean Up Day is on Friday, March 2. This year the council’s registration site will be at Civic Park with the clean-up continuing from 10am to 1pm.

Registration is easy, just come down on the day and register. It is important to wear enclosed footwear, protective clothes and bring your gloves, hat and sunscreen. Council will have some bags, sunscreen and gloves.

Did you know that the major sources of rubbish are plastic, paper, miscellaneous (with 90 percent cigarette butts), metal/aluminium and glass?

We do quite well with the initiatives we already have in place unlike New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia which are yet to introduce the container refund scheme or the Say No to Plastic Bags campaign.

Another project of Kesab is Say No to Bottle Water – this phenomenon is becoming an increasing problem as people would rather dispose of their plastic water bottles than refill them.

Another huge problem area is the increase of people drinking takeaway coffee in disposable cups. It would be far better to have a travel mug in the car and re-use this to get your takeaway coffee. Straws are another concern so saying “no” to straws can all help the amount of plastic that is produced and wasted.

Residents are encouraged to lend a hand and do their bit towards protecting their environment. It will be the ideal opportunity to get family and friends together.

Think about the places in your local area that are special to you and see if they need some tender loving care. If everyone just gave a little time, we could clean up more areas than ever before.

Clean Up Australia Day was founded by Ian Kiernan – skipper of the Spirit of Sydney who raced solo around the world in 1987,

He was shocked at the amount of rubbish he saw on his travels. Once he returned to Sydney, he rallied the community to a Clean Up Sydney Harbour day in 1989.

From there it grew into Clean Up Australia Day with the first nation-wide event in 1990. But this was not enough for Mr Kiernan who then won United Nations’ approval to launch Clean up World in 1993.

Meanwhile, the council will run another $10 microchipping day this year.

In preparation for new animal management laws coming into effect in July this year, council will offer $10 microchipping for dogs and cats, or any other animals you would like to keep safe, on Saturday, March 3, from 10am to 2pm at the dog park on Searle Street and McLennan Avenue.

There are only about 200 chips left after a huge day last year when this service was offered – so it is “first in, first chipped”.